Life & Work with Layla Vazquez-Rebollo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Layla Vazquez-Rebollo.

Hi Layla, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My interest in makeup began when I was a sophomore in high school. When school started, I decided to go on a social media cleanse. In my free time, I watched makeup videos, and a month after watching them, I realized I had a lot of makeup that had been gifted to me before, so it was an excellent hobby to pick up.

I remember I was terrible at first. There was this one time I can recall; it’s funny; for some reason, I thought I could do this tough, dark, Smokey eye with only two weeks of practice, but by the end, I looked more like a raccoon. I had so much fun choosing looks to recreate; sometimes, I would be spot on, and others, not so much. Overall, it started and continues to be a way for me to challenge myself while being creative.

I started posting makeup looks during my first year of college. I would sit there and do my makeup a few days a week. At first, I posted them because I just wanted to document my progress, and if it happened to lead to anything else, I would be so happy. However, this could be a career within a year of posting. It sounds like such a big dream, yet, it’s just about little progress, which is how I choose to look at it.

For example, I can get busy with my personal life, but I always make little time to do a simple makeup look. On the days when I have absolutely no time, I make sure to at least do some skin care. This can be seen as a small task, but it makes a big difference in the long run. I enjoy doing my makeup because it’s a way to destress and enjoy some me time. I can spend from 30 minutes to 8+ hours doing a look, but time is the one thing that I never notice while I do my makeup. I’m in my little world, having a good time.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been challenges along the way. Much of it has had to do with time management and other things that have to take priority. Aside from being a content creator, I am finishing my bachelor’s degree at Park University. So there are a lot of days where homework has to take priority. Not only is being a student what takes up most of my time, but I also have to work and am involved in athletics with my university, so that things can get very hectic. A way that I’ve managed the stress of lacking time is that I have had to learn how to manage it like never before. I have become a pro at list-making and scheduling. I have also had to learn how to listen to my body when it tells me it needs a break. Knowing things can get hectic keeps me going, but it’s all about trusting the process. Another big part of getting through the challenges is having my family to fall back on whenever I need to socialize and have fun. I want to make them all, especially my mom, proud. So just knowing that they are there when I need them is a big helping hand.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a makeup artist. My specialty is creating and recreating colorful looks. Usually, I post more wearable looks for casual days. However, I am proudest of my recent Halloween looks. This year has been the most consistent I have been with posting on my Instagram, and it’s been the year with the most Halloween looks I have done. Halloween is my favorite time of the year because I see how creative and talented others are, so it makes me proud that this year I went ahead and set so much time aside to do these looks.

My powerful, bubbly, and creative personality, mainly seen through my makeup, sets me apart from others. Since I began my makeup journey, I’ve had an innate feeling to learn, grow and expand a part of my personality through my interest in makeup. I strive to make something out of nothing. This may be with needing more time or to no idea how to do a specific look. I will persevere and work hard to learn when it comes to makeup.

The fact that I have so many sides to me can be what sets me apart. I am not only a makeup artist. I am an athlete, a student, and a hard worker. I love makeup, but I also love that I can do all these other activities that are different from makeup. Being a makeup artist has, in one way or another, entered into all parts of my life. Meeting many different types of people and still having them come to me and discuss makeup looks and the art of it has been something that has made me very proud. For example, there are people in my community who I never would’ve thought to be into makeup, but then they started asking me how to do Halloween looks. Simple interactions like these continue to make me happy when I do makeup.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is patience and trust in the process. Initially, I had to be patient because I was learning to work with makeup. Then when I learned a few more tricks, I had to be patient enough while I saved up money to buy the products I wanted. This taught me patience. Afterward, I had to be patient when doing bigger, more creative looks; since the looks require so much work to look as realistic as I want them to, I have learned that patience and trusting the process is the key. Also, as I would work through a project, having patience and knowing that it may not look good in the beginning, but it will with enough work is the only way to get through a look. Even outside of makeup, this has been an important lesson I’ve learned. I apply this to my studies, my workout journey, and even to relationships in my life. I am being patient and trusting that things will work out how they are supposed to be key.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vlaeira/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChYeQPxx5LKIYXhUKPvNCkg

Image Credits
Orlando Corona